[Canmore, AB 08-22-09] Northern Uganda is a very dangerous place to live for anyone! The LRA - Lord’s Resistance Army, led by their mystic-leader Joseph Kony, have targeted parts of Uganda, Sundan and DR Congo. Since 1987 this group has terrorized the land trying to establish their own theocratic state. This is the longest running conflict in Africa… over 22 years in length. Children have been the most vulnerable through this war. The LRA goes into villages and abducts the children to make them soldiers for their cause. They recruit and exploit the weakness of young children brainwashing them into believing they must fight and kill. It is so sad and something must be done… but over 20 year?! How can we bring change on this side of the world?

Invisible Children [IC] is an NGO in Los Angeles led by some young adults who are trying to advocate for sisters and brothers in Nothern Uganda. I spent some time on their website over the past few days. The guys over at goodsociety who make the jeans we sell at encounter earth also support this organization. IC is active in creating awareness regarding the children and families who have been abducted and killed for the LRA cause. Below is a video from the IC website to help create awareness and encourage participation in making a difference.



For more information and vidoes go to invisiblechildren.com

[Canmore, AB 08-06-09] One of the most difficult challenges that children of the third world face is bad water. This bad water is full of viruses and diseases that often leads to diarrhea and death. According to UINCEF over 4000 children die daily from water-related diseases and over 1.8 million people (mainly children) die annually. That is difficult for many including myself to process and fathom.

I often go to TED.com to be inspired and encouraged by thinkers and innovators. Today as I watched the video below with an engineer Michael Pritchard from the UK I was stirred with hope. Please take 10 minutes to watch the video below regarding Lifesaver, an incredible water bottle or a jerry can with an water filter system, that can take the worst sewer-infested water and in seconds make it safe, sterile drink water!

It is clearly time to “think differently” and consider the possibilities of changing the world…